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Wed 3 Jan 2018, 09:00 GMT

Mixed news keeps oil in tight range


By A/S Global Risk Management.



Oil prices remained in a tight trading range on mixed news. The huge Forties pipeline as well as a Libyan pipeline have both restarted, but the geopolitical risk premium in Iran has increased heavily.

Along with the current unrest in Iran, the U.S. president has refused to certify the international accord on the nuclear deal. The president also continues to spur fears of an escalation of the ongoing nuclear dispute between the U.S. and North Korea.

The Forties Pipeline transports around 450,000 barrels per day of North Sea Brent oil and was closed due to a leak in mid-December. Now the force majeure has been lifted and is "fully operational", according to the operator.

Tonight the weekly oil stocks data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) is published; consensus is draw in crude oil stocks, builds in gasoline and distillates stocks. Tomorrow, the more-closely-followed report from the EIA is published.

Turning to economic data, today will see the U.S. central bank meeting minutes as well as ISM Manufacturing PMI from the U.S. published. Chinese Caixin Services PMI is released overnight. .


Christos Doulaveris, Flex Commodities. Flex Commodities appoints Christos Doulaveris as general manager for Greece  

Bunker trader strengthens its Greek operations with a new leadership appointment.

Chang Ping Yuan vessel. China delivers first domestically built VLGC under Chinese flag  

Cosco Shipping’s new 88,000-cbm gas carrier features an LPG dual-fuel main engine.

IMO, GreenVoyage2050 and Republic of Türkiye MoTI logos. Electric and hybrid ferries could cut Sea of Marmara emissions by 63%, IMO study finds  

A GreenVoyage2050 study finds that electrification could slash emissions, avoid €492 million in damage costs and support jobs.

Study visit to Hamburg, Germany, on sustainable port development. Batumi Sea Port officials study decarbonisation practices in Hamburg  

Georgian port representatives visited Hamburg to study emissions accounting, hydrogen technology and automation ahead of their 2026 recertification audit.

Nave Harmony vessel. Navios Partners takes delivery of methanol-ready MR2 tanker Nave Harmony  

Shipowner adds 49,998-DWT newbuild product tanker equipped with methanol-ready technology.

RS Atlantico vessel. Eastern Pacific Shipping delivers LNG dual-fuel PCTC to Suardiaz  

RS Atlantico is the first mid-sized 5,500-CEU car carrier built through the EPS–Suardiaz partnership.

Tangier Maersk vessel. Maersk completes first US ethanol bunkering of a deep-sea container ship  

Shipper tests US-produced corn ethanol as a marine fuel aboard the Tangier Maersk.

CMA CGM Alceste naming ceremony. CMA CGM names methanol-powered vessel after Molière’s Alceste  

Ship features a MAN B&W 8G85ME two-stroke engine configured to run on conventional marine fuel and methanol.

Cutaway illustration of a battery-electric ship. Why batteries still cannot power ships across oceans  

Battery-electric ships dominate short-sea routes, but energy-density and infrastructure constraints keep deep-sea propulsion out of reach.

VPS logo. VPS to run marine fuel management course in Singapore  

Two-day programme in November covers fuel handling, testing and decarbonisation rules, including a laboratory tour.


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